In the article on Human Rights Watch, Reid states that “Russia is trying very hard to make discrimination look respectable by calling it ‘tradition,’ but whatever term is used in the bill, it remains discrimination and a violation of the basic human rights of LGBT people”.

On June 11, 2013, the lower chamber of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, hastily adopted on second and third readings the draft law imposing a de-facto ban on disseminating information about “non-traditional” sexuality. The draft law consists of amendments to the federal law on “Protection of children from information harmful to their health and development” and the Code of Administrative Violations. The bill, which passed 436 to 0, with 1 abstention, will be sent to the Federation Council, parliament’s upper chamber. If the Federation Council approves it, it will be sent to President Vladimir Putin for his signature.